Liudmila Samsonova vs Veronika Kudermetova Prediction & Betting Tips - WTA Berlin Open

Prediction published on 16/06/2021, 09:34  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 16/06/2021 at 10:35 in Tennis Predictions

Veronika Kudermetova takes on Liudmila Samsonova in the second round of the Berlin Open. The winner of this match will face either number one seed Aryna Sabalenka or Madison Keys in the last eight. Kudermetova is ranked 32nd in the world so will be hoping to be seeded at Wimbledon later this month. Her highest ever ranking is 28th but the Russian started this year down in 46th. 2021 began well for her with a run to the final in Abu Dhabi beating Elena Svitolina on the way to losing to Sabalenka. Kudermetova failed to build on that success with only six wins in her next seven tournaments. Better form came when the clay court season began with a tournament win in Charleston, though no top 50 ranked players were beaten. A semi-final in Istanbul was also reached as she climbed back up the rankings. In Madrid she beat Kiki Bertens and took Petra Kvitova to three sets. Only the second round was reached at Roland Garros. Her form on grass has seen her only once get into the main draw at Wimbledon losing to Carolina Wozniacki  two years ago. She did reach the last four in a Netherlands tournament in 2019.

Liudmila Samsonova began this week ranked 106th. That's just one place below her best ever ranking but that will all change after this tournament. Her live ranking is 101st and a win here will see her climb into the top 100 for the first time. Highlights this year have been a win over Kiki Bertens in Miami and most recently, the last eight of an ITF tournament in Italy, though no one in the top 250 was beaten. This week has seen her beat Ana Kojuh to confirm her place in the main draw. The first round saw Samsonova defeat Marketa Vondrousova in straight sets. Her main target this month will be to make it to the main draw at Wimbledon for the first time. This is her first match against Kudermetova and it's her opponent who can win this battle of the Russians.